AI Shipbuilding Program Begins
The US Navy AI shipbuilding program is starting with a $448 million investment aimed at speeding up construction and boosting output in yards, naval officials said. The effort centers on a new Shipbuilding Operating System to bring data and automation into planning, supply, and production workflows.
Ship OS to Unify Production Data
The Navy’s Shipbuilding Operating System, built on commercial AI software, will draw data from planning tools, legacy databases, and operational feeds to help yards identify bottlenecks and make faster decisions. Officials announced the effort at the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office Industry Day with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Palantir CEO Alex Karp.
Early pilot results show some tasks that once took weeks or hundreds of hours can now be done in minutes under AI guidance. For example, submarine schedule planning at one yard dropped from 160 hours to under ten minutes, and material reviews that took weeks are completed in less than an hour in test runs.
First Focus on Submarines, Then Surface Ships
The initial funds are directed at submarine shipbuilders, public yards, and key suppliers. The Navy plans to expand the system to surface combatant programs once methods are proven and workflows are refined. Officials say the goal is to reduce delays, stabilize schedules, and rebuild industrial base strength after years of uneven output.
Data and Autonomy for Industrial Base
The initiative links data across yards and suppliers, allowing real-time insights into capacity, cost risk, and schedule issues. Navy leaders describe it as a move to modernize how the service and industry work together on complex builds.
